With several big stories coming out of UFC 238 last Saturday night (June 8, 2019) in Chicago, Illinois, including Henry Cejudo’s history-making win (see it) and Valentina Shevchenko’s scary knockout of Jessica Eye, Karolina Kowalkiewicz third straight loss seemingly went under the radar.
Competing on the undercard, the former women’s Strawweight title contender looked to get back into the win column against Alexa Grasso after suffering back-to-back defeats to Jessica Andrade and Michelle Waterson. Unfortunately for the polish-born fighter, things only got worse after Grasso outworked her for 15 minutes to win over the judges.
With three straight defeats in her back pocket, Karolina took to social media to make a bold proclamation that perhaps her best combat years are behind her.
“Big congratulations for @alexa_grasso you did a great job thank you all for your support and warm words. Do not worry about me, it was better, but I’m fine. Bruises on the face will heal soon,” she wrote in her native Polish tongue (translation via Google translate).
“I left my heart in this fight, but unfortunately I missed something … I’m not the same player anymore. Unfortunately, the painful truth is that the best years and the top of the form are behind me, there are a lot of young, talented ambitious players who have to give way … but do not worry, I will come back and give good fights maybe not at the very top “But I will give you many emotions, just give me some time … thank you again.”
Despite her skid, Karolina seems to be determined to keep chugging along and won’t hang up her gloves anytime soon. Her run back the title will only get tougher, and by the sound of it, she seems to accept the fact that her chances of ever getting back to the big dance are slim.
Nothing wrong with brutal self-honesty.
Kowalkiewicz came into the UFC’s Octagon as an undefeated pro at 7-0, and went on to win her first three fights, including defeating former women’s Strawweight champion Rose Namajunas at UFC 201. That was good enough to earn her a shot at the division title, though she came up short to ex-champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 205. Since then, she has gone 2-4.
Care to suggest an opponent for her eventual return?